Hello, thanks Dle8 and all the guests for asking me to update, it really boosted me to write So, I know it took me a long time to update but hopefully, this chapter is what you were waiting for… I hope you like this, like always thank you if you have the time to leave a review! Have a great day!


Chapter 72 – Who's gonna stop me?

(In Hanna's loft)

*** Music background: Phantogram by Black Out Days***

Mona smirks as she looks around. – "I must admit… I underestimated you… I never thought we could get out from there without being caught…"

Caleb. – "Look Mona, this isn't a school reunion! We got you out for a reason…"

Hanna says as she grabs Mona's arm. – "Follow me, like I said in the car, the game is over here…"

Mona follows the blonde and a big smile of admiration appears on her face when they're face to face with the board game…

Mona smiles. – "Oh my…"

The little brunette roams her fingers on the board, she leans her ear on it and when Caleb notices it, he says to the brunette…

Caleb. – "I already did that, and I got nothing… I heard nothing…"

Mona smirks. – "That's because you didn't know what to listen for…"

Caleb huffs and Hanna pats his arm…

Hanna. – "Why don't you go to bed… you're tired…"

Caleb. – "I'm not leaving you alone with her …"

Hanna. – "It's okay… she will not hurt me…"

Caleb sighs heavy, not sure if he can trust Mona…

Hanna. – "Come on… you haven't sleep in the last 24hrs… you need to rest…"

Caleb. – "Fine… but just one hour… I don't trust her…"

Mona. – "I can hear you, you know…"

Caleb huffs. – "Well… good!"

Hanna. – "Come on Caleb, go to bed, we will be okay…"

Caleb hesitates but, in the end, he follows Hanna's wishes and leaves them alone. Once Caleb is out the picture, Hanna stays beside Mona…

Hanna. – "You hear something?"

Mona. – "I can't hear a fan, but I can feel where it's warm; where the batteries are… I guess, it has a finite amount of power…"

Hanna. – "What do you mean?"

Mona looks at her and says. – "You probably will need to finish the game before the batteries can run down…"

Hanna rolls her eyes, Mona keeps looking at the board and when she roams her fingers on the edge of the board, a knife gets out of it and both girls just jump back…

Hanna. – "What the hell?! This is worse than chucky!"

Mona chuckles. – "Touchy… isn't it?"

Hanna. – "Mona! I brought you here to help me! Not to admire the craftsmanship!"

Mona. – "I get you, Hann, but sometimes you have to stop and admire the craft behind the dirty tricks if you really want to shut this thing down…"

The brunette keeps contemplating each detail of the game…

Mona. – "I wish I could've built something like this…"

Hanna. – "You do?"

Mona. – "Think about the mind that conceived this! Why build a Dollhouse when you can turn the entire town into a Dollhouse? It's brilliant… It's beautiful…"

Hanna says with a sarcastic tone. – "Do you want be left alone with this game…? Maybe you can take it on a date…"

Mona doesn't reply, she just laughs, leans her head on the board again and hugs the game…

Hanna sighs. – "Damn it… it'll be a long night… I'll make coffee…"

The blonde doesn't remember when she fell asleep in the sofa; Hanna just jumps from her sofa when Mona touches her arm…

Hanna. – "When did I fall asleep? Why you didn't wake me up till now…?!"

Mona. – "You're so cute when you're asleep… I didn't want to wake you up, but I need to show you something…" (She shows a plan that she made) "Rails, pulleys and magnets make the pieces move… It's probably not listening all the time that would drain too much power…"

Hanna. – "Do you think we should cover the camera on the phone?"

Mona. – "No… that would just make someone angry…"

Hanna. – "How do we open it?"

Mona. – "You can't… when the thing was closed, it was sealed. Whoever made it, probably can't get into it now. There's poetry to that…"

Hanna. – "Who do you think made this? I guess someone who knows all about games and computers…"

Mona. – "It's not a game or a computer… there's electronics in it but the heart of this is mechanical… it was lovingly handmade…"

Mona was admiring the game with a huge smile on her face till Hanna asked her something…

Hanna. – "Mona, you've to help me play this game…"

Mona. – "What?!"

Hanna. – "Play the game and win…"

Mona shakes her head and walks away from the game and Hanna as she says. – "NO…."

Hanna pleads. – "Please Mona! You're the only person who isn't afraid of it… you admire it, you get how it works… I'm sure you can get inside the head of whoever made this…"

Mona. – "The reason I'm not afraid of it is because there's not a little Mona at the starting line…"

Hanna pleads. – "Mona! Please! I'm begging you!"

Mona. - "Hanna... please don't ask me to do this... I'm trying to get better…"

Hanna. - "I know it's wrong from me, asking you to play this sick game... I'm probably a bad person, offering a drink to an alcoholic but I'm desperate... this bastard has taken too much from us... Ali... Toby..."

Mona. - "Are they dead?!"

Hanna nods. - "Yes... and maybe I'll be next..."

Mona hugs her and says. - "No... nothing bad can happen to you!"

Mona keeps hugging Hanna as she locks her look on the board game...

Hanna. - "Please help me... You are the only one who knows what it's like to make something like this..."

Mona. - "Yes, I do. And that's why I can't touch it. Playing with people's lives like this it's an addiction… an addiction that I'm trying to get out of my system…" (Sighs) "You're not dealing with a healthy person you're dealing with an addict…"

Hanna nods. – "I know… Mona… but please…"

Mona. – "Hanna, I've been locked up in that mental institution because I got involved in this kind of games… I… I can't play this… I know more about it than I ever wanted to…"

Hanna. – "Well, then imagine how you'll feel when you beat it… when you win the game…"

Mona mutters. – "Wining the game…"

Mona stares at the game, she pictures herself, defeating this new A and just picturing herself as the winner of the game… it brings a sparkle in her eyes…

Mona mumbles. – "There's always someone stealing the game from me…"

Hanna. – "Mona…?"

Mona smirks. – "And this time, it's my turn to steal it… my turn to play…"

Hanna smiles, she hugs the brunette and for a moment, the end of this sick nightmare looks tangible…

Hanna smiles. – "Thank you, Mona…"

Mona freezes with the hug, she doesn't remember when was the last time someone hugged her, but it was nice, it was nice to hug Hanna again, the only person she has ever seen as a friend. Mona wraps her arms around Hanna and the two pals stay there hugging each other…

We thought we'd seen it all. But we've never seen this: Mona and Hanna reunited to claim victory against AD? With friends like these who needs armies? When it comes to war, the rule is Never retreat, never surrender. But whoever said that never met this duet... let a new game begin…

(Outside Spencer's barn)

Blair was getting inside her car and she was ready to leave, but she stops all motions when an unexpected visitor appears… Marco was walking towards the front door of Spencer, but he stops walking when he hears someone calling his name. He turns around and he offers a forced smile to respond to the greeting of the girl who was standing in front of him…

Marco. – "Miss… Sloan…"

Blair. – "Dr. Sloan…"

They stay in silence for a moment, just staring at each other; neither of them looked happy…

Blair. – "There's a reason of your visit? We weren't expecting you…"

Marco smirks. – "We…?!"

Blair steps forwards, closing the distance between them and says as she looks at him into the eyes…

Blair. – "Yes… we…"

Marco doesn't reply, he just bares his teeth, taking deep breaths…

Marco. – "I thought you were going to London…"

Blair smirks. – "You thought wrong… you better get with the idea of seeing me around every time because I'm not going anywhere…"

They were staring at each other with challenging looks when someone gets to their encounter...

Spencer. - "Marco... you're here... good..."

Blair raises an eye brow. - "Marco?! Why you're calling him by his 1st name?!"

Spencer. - "Because he told me I could... mmm... why you're still here? Weren't you leaving for work?"

Blair. - " I was but..."

Spencer raises an eye brow and crosses her arms. - "But...?"

The young doctor doesn't end her sentence; she just sighs heavy as she stares at the detective with a killer look...

Marco smirks. - "Do I've something in my face, Dr. Sloan?"

Blair doesn't reply, she tries to stay calm, but she can't stay calm when she sees Marco hugging Spencer by the shoulder... Spencer notices how Blair looks like a Bull, ready to kill and to avoid any massacre, she puts distance with the detective; Spencer asks him to wait for her inside. Marco nods and he says his good byes to Blair as he walks inside the barn. Once Marco is out of the picture, Spencer says as she play-fully hits Blair's arm...

Spencer. - "What is wrong with you?! You look like a Bull, ready to kill!"

Blair. - "Are you serious?! What is wrong with me... what is wrong with you?! As soon as I leave, you just invite a guy into your House?!"

Spencer. - "I don't like your tone..."

Blair. - "And I don't like him around you..."

Spencer rolls her eyes. - "You've to be kidding me! Are you seriously jealous of Marco?!"

Blair doesn't reply, she answers with another question...

Blair. - "Why he's here?"

Spencer sighs heavy. - "I don't want to talk about it, here outside, where anyone could hear us..."

Blair says as she starts walking towards the barn...

Blair. - "Fine... then let's talk inside..."

Spencer. - "What about work? Are you not going to the hospital?"

Blair holds Spencer's hand and drags Spencer with her, intertwining their fingers...

Blair. - "I'm not leaving you alone with him..."

Spencer teases. - "You're jealous..."

Blair doesn't reply, she just huffs and avoids eye-contact...

Spencer smirks. - "You're so, so, jealous..."

Spencer continues teasing Blair and the young doctor doesn't reply but her silence reveals the truth...

(In the Dilaurentis-Fields' house)

Emily was alone with her boys, she smiles, playing with them on the carpet of the living room.

Emily. - "Here comes the train... chu... chu..."

The boys chuckle as they see the train toy passing around them; Emily feels so happy, making their kids smile, it always gives her a huge amount of joy...

Emily mutters with sadness. - "I wish Ali could be here too..."

It was a calmed morning till she hears a knock on her door...

Emily. - "Pepe... watch over them..."

The dog nods and barks; Pepe starts walking in circles around the boys as if he was putting a circle of protection around them. Emily opens the front door; she gasps with surprise as she wasn't expecting this visitor...

Emily. - "Ben...?!"

Ben grins. - "Hi Emily... God... look at you... it's like the years didn't affect you... you look so young… so beautiful..."

The brunette sighs heavy, she wasn't expecting this...

Emily. - "I didn't know you were in town... what are you doing here?"

Ben smirks. - "I thought it was time to pay you a visit..."

Emily. - "Why?!"

Ben doesn't reply, he just stays in silence, starying at her; it was creepy, and Emily feels uncomfortable with the constant gaze...

Ben. - "Can I come in?"

He makes a step forwards, but he quickly steps back when he sees Pepe behind the brunette, barking and showing his teeth...

Ben. - "I guess that's a no..."

Emily smiles at her loyal dog...Pepe barks louder, showing that Ben is not welcome in the house...

Emily smirks. - "He doesn't like you, you should go before he bites you..."

Ben forces a laugh and then walks back at his car...

Ben. - "I heard you're single again... maybe one of these days we can have lunch together and catchup... I'm here if you need a shoulder to cry..."

The brunette rolls her eyes, she doesn't bother to reply, she just closes the door. Pepe rubs his head on Emily's leg; the brunette knees and caresses him...

Emily. - "Can you believe that guy?!"

Pepe barks and licks Emily's face...

Emily giggles. - "Thank you, buddy, for scaring him away..."

She was with her dog when someone knocks her door again...

Emily huffs as she opens the door. - "Really, if it's you again... I will let Pepe to bite you..."

Pepe jumps enthusiastic and the other person behind the door just gulps hard, hearing Emily's words…

Aria. - "Oh... I know I'm not your favorite person right now but that's a hostile welcome... "

Emily. - "Aria?"

The girls stay in silence, just looking at each other...

Aria says with a shy voice. - "Can I come in?"

Emily crosses her arms. - "What do you want?!"

Aria. - "We need to talk..."

Emily says as she tries to close the door. - "We have nothing to talk about... leave..."

Aria puts her arm between the frame door and the door, she forces herself in and closes the door behind her...

Emily snaps. - "What the hell, Aria?!"

Aria shows her phone and the brunette gasps with shock as she can't believe what she's reading...

AD's text: "Rumour is Emily has a hidden lady… find out where and bring her to me…"

Emily mumbles with watery-eyes. - "No... no... no..."

Aria hugs her, trying to comfort her but nothing can comfort Emily, since once again, Alison is in AD's radar.

Poor Emily. No one told her this was going to be a horror movie but in this town of Rosewood, secrets don't stay hidden forever and it looks like Emily's secret is now public news... wondering what will be the front page of tomorrow's newspaper: Family reunion or Queen sinking down?

Someone is with quite an appetite for destruction… the question is: who's gonna stop him?

(In Spencer's Barn)

Sitting in the sofa, Blair hugs a shaking Spencer as they expect any reaction of the man who's sitting beside them...

Marco. - "Can I see the texts?"

Spencer gives him her phone; the detective takes his time to read each one of them...

Spencer mumbles. - "Marco..."

Marco. - "Why you decided to talk with the police about this till now?"

Spencer. – "I didn't decide to talk with the police… I decided to trust you..."

Marco stares at her and raises an eye brow…

Spencer. – "I know how hard you've been working on Melissa's case, in Toby's case, on trying to catch Jenna… and I'm done playing with sick bastards… this has to stop… can you help us to stop this?"

When faced with an uncertain future, the questions we truly hate to ask are the ones we fear we already know the answer to. So, careful, girls. If I were you, I'd be worried, in this town of Rosewood, a lot can happen when you bring other players in the game. Let's hope your policies are paid up, because it looks like you're on a collision course.

(In a room in Radley hotel at night)

Hanna. – "So, how do I look?"

Caleb smirks. – "Like an Asiatic hooker…"

Hann rolls her eyes

Mona. – "You look great Hann…"

Hanna smiles. – "Thanks…" (She stares at the dress that AD was forcing her to wear and says) "So, I'm really doing this…"

Mona was going to say something, but she gets interrupted when the door of the room clacks…

Spencer. – "I'm sorry I'm late…" (She gasps with shock as she can't believe who's there) "Mona?!"

Aria, who's walking behind Spencer says. – "What did I miss?"

Hanna. – "Calm down… Mona's here to help…"

Spencer crosses her arms and says. – "She knows about the game?!"

Hanna nods

Aria. – "But why?!"

Hanna. – "Because we need her help! She's brilliant and she knows the answers before even we ask the question…"

Mona smiles with Hanna's words…

Mona smirks. – "Well, the question is, why you waited so long to ask for my help… and for that I have no answer…"

Spencer. – "I don't trust you Mona! You shouldn't be here! I'm driving you back to Welby!"

Spencer tries to grab Mona's arm but the little brunette pulls back…

Mona. – "Look honey! I'm not going anywhere! You may don't like me or trust me, but you need me… I've a lot of theories of how win this game…"

Spencer. – "There's no piece on that board that looks like you… so, why would you play this game?"

Mona. – "Because Hann asked me and if you think I'm gonna leave her fate in your fumbling hands, you've been smoking the drapes…"

Spencer sighs, the room stays in silence as Spencer and Mona just stares at each other with challenging looks…

Hanna. – "And Emily? She should be here, too…"

Aria. – "She will arrive later, she needs to deal with something first…"

Hanna. – "With what?"

Aria looks down. – "It's not to me to tell, but she told me she would come as soon as she could…"

Hanna. – "Fine…" (She looks at her watch and says) "It's show time… let's do this…"

Spencer. – "So, this plan to catch AD… it's yours or hers?"

Hanna. – "Does it matter?"

Spencer. – "It matters to me…"

Hanna sighs. – "Look Spencer, we don't have time to argue ok, so, decide, are you in or out?"

Spencer sighs heavy but eventually she nods…

Hanna. – "Good, now let's do this…"

Caleb. – "Is Blair coming to? I will need her help to synchronize all the cameras of the hotel…"

Spencer. – "She's coming and also Marco…"

Hanna. – "Marco? Who… wait! Are you talking about the detective?!"

Spencer nods

Hanna. – "You got to the police?! What the hell, Spence?! Why you do things behind our back?!"

Spencer. – "Hey! Don't use that tone with me! Yeah, I told Marco about AD, but you told Mona too… behind our back and that's worse… you just invited the devil in…"

Speak of the Devil and he doth appear. Wearing his trademark hoodie… but it will not appear in front of these girls… no, the danger is target to another girl…

(In the DiLaurentis-Fields house)

After the shocking day she had today, Emily asked her parents to take the boys with them for tonight; she was supposed to assist in Hanna's plan at the Radley hotel, but she needed first to make sure Alison was safe. Sadly, for the brunette; she hasn't been able to talk with Noel; all day long, she has been calling him, but she gets directly on mail box…

Emily sighs. – "Damn it! Why you're not answering?!"

In the dark, she was dialling over and over Noel's number till she heard a scream of pain from the kitchen; she walks to the kitchen and she runs over her dog that's bleeding in the floor, in pain…

Emily. – "OMG! Pepe! Who did this to you?!"

The brunette was so focused on her dog that she didn't notice the shadow behind her till it was too late…

Ben smirks with a devious smile. – "Now, there's no obstacle for me to come in…"

Emily. – "Ben?! Wh-…"

*** Music background: Niki & The Dove - DJ Ease My Mind ***

Ben throws away the baseball bat that he had in his hands and he caresses Emily's face with his dirty hands. Emily feels chills of fear running over her body; seeing that creepy look of Ben, it brings bad memories to her; she recalls the time when he tried to rape her in the locker room and she doesn't know what to do besides, run away from him…

Emily has always been strong, but somehow, in front of Ben, she felt weak, powerless and Ben used this against her. She runs towards the front door but before she could open it, he forcefully grabs her from behind; Emily tries to fight back but he's stronger; they struggle and both of them fall on the floor; Ben on top of her…

Emily screams. – "Get off of me!"

Ben smirks. – "No…"

He tears apart Emily's t-shirt and he licks his lips with lust as Emily's bra is exposed…

Ben. – "I've been waiting so long for this… I can't believe I'll finally make you mine…"

Emily panics, she tries to kick him away, but she can't… she's powerless against him and her body freezes when she feels how Ben starts kissing her neck…

Emily cries. – "No! Please, No! Let me go!"

Ben smirks. – "Stop fighting it, you will love it…"

Emily screams for help over and over and her cries increase when Ben takes off her pants…

Ben smirks. – "Stop screaming Emily, there's no Toby, no dog, no Alison… there's no one…"

Emily closes her eyes and cries louder. – "Please help! Help! Someone! Someone stops him!"

Ben smirks as he roams his fingers over Emily's panties. – "Yeah?! And who's gonna stop me?! Who?!"

Alison yells. – "ME!"

Ben looks up. – "What?!"

The blonde has taken the bat he left in the kitchen and with all her strength, she grips on it with both hands, she keeps a strong grip on the bat as she swings it towards Ben's head. He didn't see it coming, he couldn't believe the blonde was alive, but when the bat made contact with his head; the pain was so real that it was impossible to deny the reality…

Emily sobs. – "Ali!"

Ben is pulled away from Emily by the impact of the bat, he's bleeding in the floor and he gulps with fear as he looks up at the blonde standing in front of him, swinging the bat with a lethal gaze…

Spotted, a beautiful blonde phoenix rising from the ashes of a major public death. Welcome back, Queen Ali. Consider us your humbled servants. 'Cause if looks could kill we wouldn't want to be Ben…

Next: Chapter 73 – Back where you belong